Advanced - A: B: A: B:
Advanced - ： 大 城 市 是 小 城 市？ A:
(E1433)
哥們兒明天就要回老家了，今天咱們好好喝一 場！ ˇ a¯ le, j¯ıntian ´ ˇ ao ¯ ¯ jiuy` ¯ zanmen ¯ gemenr m´ıngtian haoh ` ao hu´ı laoji ˇ he¯ y¯ı chang! Tomorrow, I’m going back to my hometown. Tonight, let’s drink up!
B:
乾！為了你的明智選擇！ ` nˇı de m´ıngzh`ı xuanz´ ˇ e! ¯ weile gan! Cheers! To your wise decision!
A:
哎！我也就一逃兵！不想在這兒混了，房價高， 工資低，啥時候才能給老婆孩子一個窩啊！ ´ ıng! b`u xiang ˇ ` zher ` hun ¯ woˇ yˇe jiu` y¯ı taob¯ ai! zai ` le, f´angjia` ´ neng ´ ˇ laopo ˇ ´ y¯ı ge` ¯ gongz¯ ¯ gao, ı d¯ı, sha´ sh´ıhou cai gei haizi wo¯ a! Agh! I’m just a deserter! I don’t want to just keep drifting along here. Housing prices are high, salaries are low; when will I ever be able to provide a nice home for my wife and kid!
B:
是金子在哪兒都會發光的。回小城市也挺好的， 壓力小，生活質量高。還能照顧父母。 ` nar ˇ dou ˇ chengsh` ´ ¯ hu`ı f¯aguang ¯ sh`ı j¯ınzi zai de. hu´ı xiao ı yˇe ˇ de, y¯al`ı xiao, ˇ shenghu ´ neng ´ ¯ ¯ tˇıng hao o´ zh`ıliang gao. hai ` zhaogu fum ` u. ˇ
Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version).
c
2010 Praxis Language Ltd.
Wherever there’s gold, it shines! Going back to a small city is quite nice. There’s little pressure, and the quality of life is higher. Also, you can take care of your folks.
A:
大學畢業的時候，一門心思想來大城市闖蕩。 現在才知道，並不是每個人都能在大上海撈一把 的。 ` e´ b`ıy`e de sh´ıhou, y¯ımenx¯ ´ ınsi xiang ˇ ´ dach ` engsh` ´ daxu lai ı ˇ ` ` ai ` cai ´ zh¯ıdao, ` b`ıng b`ush`ı mei ˇ ge ren ´ dou ¯ chuangd ang. xianz ´ ` da` Shangh ` ˇ laoy¯ ¯ ıbaˇ de. neng zai ai When I graduated from university, I wholeheartedly wanted to come to the big city and make a living, but now I know: not everyone can make a profit in a big city like Shanghai.
C:
我是豁出去了，混不出個人樣來絕對不回去。反 正我這破專業去小城市也沒用武之地。 ´ ang lai ´ juedu` ´ ı b`u ¯ uqu woˇ sh`ı huoch le, hun ` b`u chu¯ ge reny` ¯ ` ˇ chengsh` ´ ¯ e qu` xiao hu´ıqu. fˇanzheng woˇ zhe` po` zhuany` ı yˇe ´ y`ongwuzh¯ mei ˇ ıd`ı. I’m committed. If I can’t make something of myself, I’m definitely not going back. Either way, a lousy major like mine won’t get me anywhere in a small town.
A:
決定了就好好幹吧！上海畢竟機會多，空間也 大。再說了，你還是單身，想去哪兒就能去哪 兒。
Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version).
c
2010 Praxis Language Ltd.
´ ıng le jiu` haoh ˇ ao ` ba! Shangh ` ˇ b`ıj`ıng j¯ıhu`ı duo, ¯ gan ¯ jued` ai ` zaishu ` ´ ı dansh ˇ ˇ ¯ yˇe da. ¯ ¯ xiang k¯ongjian o¯ le, nˇı haish` en, qu` nar ´ ˇ jiu` neng qu` nar. If you’ve made up your mind, then do it well! After all, there are a lot of opportunities in Shanghai, and there’s a lot of room to grow. On top of that, you’re still single. Wherever you want to go, you can go.
C:
單身也是沒辦法的事兒。現在的女孩兒都現實， 咱沒房沒車，自己就底氣不足。 ´ banfˇ ` a de sh`ır. xianz ` ai ` de nuh ´ dou ¯ ¯ yˇe sh`ı mei ¯ dansh en uˇ¨ air ` ´ mei ´ f´ang mei ´ che, ¯ z`ıjˇı jiu` dˇıq`ı b`uzu. xiansh´ ı, zan ´ Well, there’s nothing I can do about being single anyway. Girls these days are too practical. If you don’t have a house or a car, it just won’t cut it.
B:
對了，你已經在老家找好工作了吧？ ` laoji ˇ a¯ zhao ˇ hao ˇ gongzu ¯ du`ıle, nˇı yˇıj¯ıng zai o` le ba? That’s right, did you already find a job in your hometown?
A:
嗯，我在這兒就一草根，回老家就成精英了。公 司開出的工資比我在上海的還高，而且還給我一 套110平米的房子。回去我再用積蓄買輛車，也算 中產階級了。小城市消費也低。呆在上海，我得 多奮鬥十年。
Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version).
c
2010 Praxis Language Ltd.
` zher ` jiu` y¯ı caog ˇ en, ˇ a¯ jiu` cheng ´ ¯ hu´ı laoji ng, woˇ zai j¯ıngy¯ıng ` Shangh ` ˇ de hai ´ gao, ¯ ¯ chu¯ de gongz¯ ¯ ¯ le. gongs¯ ı kai ı bˇı woˇ zai ai ´ eˇ hai ´ gei ˇ woˇ y¯ı tao ` y¯ıbaiy¯ ˇ ısh´ı p´ıngmˇı de f´angzi. hu´ıqu woˇ erqi ` y`ong j¯ıxu` mai ˇ liang ` ` zhongch ˇ ej´ ˇ ¯ yˇe suan ¯ ¯ ı le. xiao zai che, anji ´ ` Shangh ` ˇ woˇ dei ˇ duo¯ f`endou ` ¯ ei yˇe d¯ı. dai ¯ zai chengsh` ı xiaof` ai, ´ sh´ı nian. Yeah. Around here, I’m a nobody. If I go back home though, I’ll be one of the elite. The company’s starting salary is higher than my salary in Shanghai, and they’re even giving me a 110 square meter apartment. After I get back, I’m going to use my savings to buy a car too. I’ll be middle class. The cost of living is low in small cities. If I stay in Shanghai, I’d have to struggle for another 10 years.
B:
真不錯。說得我也動心了。呆在上海競爭激烈不 說，還得擠公交擠地鐵，上個班路上就要花兩三 個小時，就一個字“累”。其實我也想去中小城 市發展的，可惜我老婆不讓，她總是說為了下一 代，也要在上海混下去。 ` shuo¯ de woˇ yˇe dongx¯ ` ` Shangh ` ˇ ¯ b`ucuo. ¯ zai zhen ın le. dai ai ´ dei ˇ jˇı gongji ˇ shang ` ¯ ¯ hai ¯ ¯ jˇı d`ıtie, j`ıngzheng j¯ılie` b`ushuo, ao ge ˇ san ˇ ` ¯ lushang ¯ ge` xiaosh´ ban jiuy` ı, jiu` y¯ı ge` z`ı” lei”. ` ` ao hua¯ liang ˇ ˇ chengsh` ´ ˇ de, kˇex¯ı ¯ q´ısh´ı woˇ yˇe xiang qu` zhong xiao ı f¯azhan ˇ ` ` xiay¯ ` ıdai, ` yˇe y`ao zai ` woˇ laopo b`u rang, ta¯ zˇongsh`ı shuo¯ weile ` ˇ hun ` Shangh ai ` xiaqu.
Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version).
c
2010 Praxis Language Ltd.
That’s really not bad. You’re even getting me excited. In Shanghai, not only is the competition intense, you have to squeeze onto the bus and subway. It takes 2 or 3 hours to get to work. I have one word: tiring. Actually, I want to go to a small city and develop myself too. It’s too bad my wife won’t let me. She always says it’s all for the next generation, and that we should stay in Shanghai.
A:
是啊，大城市發達，也能給孩子更好的教育條 件。你還算混得不錯，工作穩定，房子也買了。 ` engsh` ´ ´ yˇe neng ´ gei ˇ haizi ´ geng ` hao ˇ de jiao` sh`ı a, dach ı f¯ada, ´ an. ` ´ suan ` hun ` gongzu ˇ ıng, ¯ yu` tiaoji nˇı hai o` wend` ` de b`ucuo, ˇ le. f´angzi yˇe mai Well yeah. Big cities are developed, and can also provide better educational standards for your children. You’re actually doing pretty good. You’ve got a stable job, you bought a house.
B:
房子是買了，可是得做二三十年房奴。過兩年要 個寶寶，生活也是緊巴巴的。白領白領，就是工 資都“白”了，實際上連民工都不如。 ˇ le, kˇesh`ı dei ˇ zuo` er ` sansh´ ´ f´angnu. ¯ f´angzi sh`ı mai ı nian ´ guo` ˇ nian ´ y`ao ge baobao, ˇ ´ ¯ ¯ de. bailiang shenghu o´ yˇe sh`ı jˇınbaba ´ ıng, jiush` ´ lˇıng le, sh´ıj`ıshang ` ´ ¯ ¯ bai” lˇıng bailˇ ı dou” lian ` ı gongz¯ ¯ ¯ b`uru. m´ıngong dou ´
Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version).
c
2010 Praxis Language Ltd.
I did buy a house, but I’ll be a slave to my mortgage for another 20 or 30 years. In two years I’m going to have a baby too, and money will be tight. White collar? More like your salary gets whited out. It’s not even as good as doing manual labor.
C:
呵呵！咱不說這個了，來，乾！ ´ b`u shuo¯ zhe` ge le, lai, ´ gan! ¯ e! ¯ zan ¯ heh Heh-heh! Let’s be done talking about this. Here, here! Cheers!
AB: 乾! ¯ gan! Cheers!
Key Vocabulary
明智
m´ıngzh`ı
wise
逃兵
´ ıng taob¯
deserter
混
hun `
to get by, to drift along
是金子在 哪兒都會 發光的
` ar ˇ sh`ı j¯ınzi zain ¯ ¯ douhu` ı f¯aguang de
’where there’s gold, it shines’
Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version).
c
2010 Praxis Language Ltd.
一門心思
´ ınsi y¯ımenx¯
to be focused wholeheartedly
闖蕩
ˇ ` chuangd ang
to make a living away from home
撈一把
¯ ıbaˇ laoy¯
to make a profit
豁出去
¯ uqu huoch ¯
to commit, to go for broke
混不出個 人樣來
hun b`uchu¯ ` ´ ang lai ´ reny`
用武之地
y`ongwuzh¯ ˇ ıd`ı
a fitting place to put one’s skills to use
底氣
dˇıq`ı
self-confidence, power
草根
ˇ en ¯ caog
a person with no social status
精英
j¯ıngy¯ıng
elite
積蓄
j¯ıxu`
savings
中產階級
ˇ ej´ ¯ ¯ı zhongch anji
middle class
ge
Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version).
on,
to be unable to become a successful person
lung
c
2010 Praxis Language Ltd.
動心
` dongx¯ ın
to be moved, excited
下一代
` ıdai ` xiay¯
next generation
房奴
f´angnu´
mortgage slave
緊巴巴
¯ jˇınbaba
financially tight
strained,
Supplementary Vocabulary
奴隸
nul` ´ı
slave
闖江湖
ˇ ¯ chuangji anghu´
to lead a nomadic lifestyle
弱勢階層
` ıjiec ´ ¯ eng ruosh`
underprivileged class
蝸居
¯ u¯ woj
Narrow Dwellings
供房
¯ ang gongf´
supplied housing
Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version).
c
2010 Praxis Language Ltd.
(E1433)
哥們兒明天就要回老家了，今天咱們好好喝一 場！ ˇ a¯ le, j¯ıntian ´ ˇ ao ¯ ¯ jiuy` ¯ zanmen ¯ gemenr m´ıngtian haoh ` ao hu´ı laoji ˇ he¯ y¯ı chang! Tomorrow, I’m going back to my hometown. Tonight, let’s drink up!
B:
乾！為了你的明智選擇！ ` nˇı de m´ıngzh`ı xuanz´ ˇ e! ¯ weile gan! Cheers! To your wise decision!
A:
哎！我也就一逃兵！不想在這兒混了，房價高， 工資低，啥時候才能給老婆孩子一個窩啊！ ´ ıng! b`u xiang ˇ ` zher ` hun ¯ woˇ yˇe jiu` y¯ı taob¯ ai! zai ` le, f´angjia` ´ neng ´ ˇ laopo ˇ ´ y¯ı ge` ¯ gongz¯ ¯ gao, ı d¯ı, sha´ sh´ıhou cai gei haizi wo¯ a! Agh! I’m just a deserter! I don’t want to just keep drifting along here. Housing prices are high, salaries are low; when will I ever be able to provide a nice home for my wife and kid!
B:
是金子在哪兒都會發光的。回小城市也挺好的， 壓力小，生活質量高。還能照顧父母。 ` nar ˇ dou ˇ chengsh` ´ ¯ hu`ı f¯aguang ¯ sh`ı j¯ınzi zai de. hu´ı xiao ı yˇe ˇ de, y¯al`ı xiao, ˇ shenghu ´ neng ´ ¯ ¯ tˇıng hao o´ zh`ıliang gao. hai ` zhaogu fum ` u. ˇ
Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version).
c
2010 Praxis Language Ltd.
Wherever there’s gold, it shines! Going back to a small city is quite nice. There’s little pressure, and the quality of life is higher. Also, you can take care of your folks.
A:
大學畢業的時候，一門心思想來大城市闖蕩。 現在才知道，並不是每個人都能在大上海撈一把 的。 ` e´ b`ıy`e de sh´ıhou, y¯ımenx¯ ´ ınsi xiang ˇ ´ dach ` engsh` ´ daxu lai ı ˇ ` ` ai ` cai ´ zh¯ıdao, ` b`ıng b`ush`ı mei ˇ ge ren ´ dou ¯ chuangd ang. xianz ´ ` da` Shangh ` ˇ laoy¯ ¯ ıbaˇ de. neng zai ai When I graduated from university, I wholeheartedly wanted to come to the big city and make a living, but now I know: not everyone can make a profit in a big city like Shanghai.
C:
我是豁出去了，混不出個人樣來絕對不回去。反 正我這破專業去小城市也沒用武之地。 ´ ang lai ´ juedu` ´ ı b`u ¯ uqu woˇ sh`ı huoch le, hun ` b`u chu¯ ge reny` ¯ ` ˇ chengsh` ´ ¯ e qu` xiao hu´ıqu. fˇanzheng woˇ zhe` po` zhuany` ı yˇe ´ y`ongwuzh¯ mei ˇ ıd`ı. I’m committed. If I can’t make something of myself, I’m definitely not going back. Either way, a lousy major like mine won’t get me anywhere in a small town.
A:
決定了就好好幹吧！上海畢竟機會多，空間也 大。再說了，你還是單身，想去哪兒就能去哪 兒。
Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version).
c
2010 Praxis Language Ltd.
´ ıng le jiu` haoh ˇ ao ` ba! Shangh ` ˇ b`ıj`ıng j¯ıhu`ı duo, ¯ gan ¯ jued` ai ` zaishu ` ´ ı dansh ˇ ˇ ¯ yˇe da. ¯ ¯ xiang k¯ongjian o¯ le, nˇı haish` en, qu` nar ´ ˇ jiu` neng qu` nar. If you’ve made up your mind, then do it well! After all, there are a lot of opportunities in Shanghai, and there’s a lot of room to grow. On top of that, you’re still single. Wherever you want to go, you can go.
C:
單身也是沒辦法的事兒。現在的女孩兒都現實， 咱沒房沒車，自己就底氣不足。 ´ banfˇ ` a de sh`ır. xianz ` ai ` de nuh ´ dou ¯ ¯ yˇe sh`ı mei ¯ dansh en uˇ¨ air ` ´ mei ´ f´ang mei ´ che, ¯ z`ıjˇı jiu` dˇıq`ı b`uzu. xiansh´ ı, zan ´ Well, there’s nothing I can do about being single anyway. Girls these days are too practical. If you don’t have a house or a car, it just won’t cut it.
B:
對了，你已經在老家找好工作了吧？ ` laoji ˇ a¯ zhao ˇ hao ˇ gongzu ¯ du`ıle, nˇı yˇıj¯ıng zai o` le ba? That’s right, did you already find a job in your hometown?
A:
嗯，我在這兒就一草根，回老家就成精英了。公 司開出的工資比我在上海的還高，而且還給我一 套110平米的房子。回去我再用積蓄買輛車，也算 中產階級了。小城市消費也低。呆在上海，我得 多奮鬥十年。
Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version).
c
2010 Praxis Language Ltd.
` zher ` jiu` y¯ı caog ˇ en, ˇ a¯ jiu` cheng ´ ¯ hu´ı laoji ng, woˇ zai j¯ıngy¯ıng ` Shangh ` ˇ de hai ´ gao, ¯ ¯ chu¯ de gongz¯ ¯ ¯ le. gongs¯ ı kai ı bˇı woˇ zai ai ´ eˇ hai ´ gei ˇ woˇ y¯ı tao ` y¯ıbaiy¯ ˇ ısh´ı p´ıngmˇı de f´angzi. hu´ıqu woˇ erqi ` y`ong j¯ıxu` mai ˇ liang ` ` zhongch ˇ ej´ ˇ ¯ yˇe suan ¯ ¯ ı le. xiao zai che, anji ´ ` Shangh ` ˇ woˇ dei ˇ duo¯ f`endou ` ¯ ei yˇe d¯ı. dai ¯ zai chengsh` ı xiaof` ai, ´ sh´ı nian. Yeah. Around here, I’m a nobody. If I go back home though, I’ll be one of the elite. The company’s starting salary is higher than my salary in Shanghai, and they’re even giving me a 110 square meter apartment. After I get back, I’m going to use my savings to buy a car too. I’ll be middle class. The cost of living is low in small cities. If I stay in Shanghai, I’d have to struggle for another 10 years.
B:
真不錯。說得我也動心了。呆在上海競爭激烈不 說，還得擠公交擠地鐵，上個班路上就要花兩三 個小時，就一個字“累”。其實我也想去中小城 市發展的，可惜我老婆不讓，她總是說為了下一 代，也要在上海混下去。 ` shuo¯ de woˇ yˇe dongx¯ ` ` Shangh ` ˇ ¯ b`ucuo. ¯ zai zhen ın le. dai ai ´ dei ˇ jˇı gongji ˇ shang ` ¯ ¯ hai ¯ ¯ jˇı d`ıtie, j`ıngzheng j¯ılie` b`ushuo, ao ge ˇ san ˇ ` ¯ lushang ¯ ge` xiaosh´ ban jiuy` ı, jiu` y¯ı ge` z`ı” lei”. ` ` ao hua¯ liang ˇ ˇ chengsh` ´ ˇ de, kˇex¯ı ¯ q´ısh´ı woˇ yˇe xiang qu` zhong xiao ı f¯azhan ˇ ` ` xiay¯ ` ıdai, ` yˇe y`ao zai ` woˇ laopo b`u rang, ta¯ zˇongsh`ı shuo¯ weile ` ˇ hun ` Shangh ai ` xiaqu.
Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version).
c
2010 Praxis Language Ltd.
That’s really not bad. You’re even getting me excited. In Shanghai, not only is the competition intense, you have to squeeze onto the bus and subway. It takes 2 or 3 hours to get to work. I have one word: tiring. Actually, I want to go to a small city and develop myself too. It’s too bad my wife won’t let me. She always says it’s all for the next generation, and that we should stay in Shanghai.
A:
是啊，大城市發達，也能給孩子更好的教育條 件。你還算混得不錯，工作穩定，房子也買了。 ` engsh` ´ ´ yˇe neng ´ gei ˇ haizi ´ geng ` hao ˇ de jiao` sh`ı a, dach ı f¯ada, ´ an. ` ´ suan ` hun ` gongzu ˇ ıng, ¯ yu` tiaoji nˇı hai o` wend` ` de b`ucuo, ˇ le. f´angzi yˇe mai Well yeah. Big cities are developed, and can also provide better educational standards for your children. You’re actually doing pretty good. You’ve got a stable job, you bought a house.
B:
房子是買了，可是得做二三十年房奴。過兩年要 個寶寶，生活也是緊巴巴的。白領白領，就是工 資都“白”了，實際上連民工都不如。 ˇ le, kˇesh`ı dei ˇ zuo` er ` sansh´ ´ f´angnu. ¯ f´angzi sh`ı mai ı nian ´ guo` ˇ nian ´ y`ao ge baobao, ˇ ´ ¯ ¯ de. bailiang shenghu o´ yˇe sh`ı jˇınbaba ´ ıng, jiush` ´ lˇıng le, sh´ıj`ıshang ` ´ ¯ ¯ bai” lˇıng bailˇ ı dou” lian ` ı gongz¯ ¯ ¯ b`uru. m´ıngong dou ´
Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version).
c
2010 Praxis Language Ltd.
I did buy a house, but I’ll be a slave to my mortgage for another 20 or 30 years. In two years I’m going to have a baby too, and money will be tight. White collar? More like your salary gets whited out. It’s not even as good as doing manual labor.
C:
呵呵！咱不說這個了，來，乾！ ´ b`u shuo¯ zhe` ge le, lai, ´ gan! ¯ e! ¯ zan ¯ heh Heh-heh! Let’s be done talking about this. Here, here! Cheers!
AB: 乾! ¯ gan! Cheers!
Key Vocabulary
明智
m´ıngzh`ı
wise
逃兵
´ ıng taob¯
deserter
混
hun `
to get by, to drift along
是金子在 哪兒都會 發光的
` ar ˇ sh`ı j¯ınzi zain ¯ ¯ douhu` ı f¯aguang de
’where there’s gold, it shines’
Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version).
c
2010 Praxis Language Ltd.
一門心思
´ ınsi y¯ımenx¯
to be focused wholeheartedly
闖蕩
ˇ ` chuangd ang
to make a living away from home
撈一把
¯ ıbaˇ laoy¯
to make a profit
豁出去
¯ uqu huoch ¯
to commit, to go for broke
混不出個 人樣來
hun b`uchu¯ ` ´ ang lai ´ reny`
用武之地
y`ongwuzh¯ ˇ ıd`ı
a fitting place to put one’s skills to use
底氣
dˇıq`ı
self-confidence, power
草根
ˇ en ¯ caog
a person with no social status
精英
j¯ıngy¯ıng
elite
積蓄
j¯ıxu`
savings
中產階級
ˇ ej´ ¯ ¯ı zhongch anji
middle class
ge
Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version).
on,
to be unable to become a successful person
lung
c
2010 Praxis Language Ltd.
動心
` dongx¯ ın
to be moved, excited
下一代
` ıdai ` xiay¯
next generation
房奴
f´angnu´
mortgage slave
緊巴巴
¯ jˇınbaba
financially tight
strained,
Supplementary Vocabulary
奴隸
nul` ´ı
slave
闖江湖
ˇ ¯ chuangji anghu´
to lead a nomadic lifestyle
弱勢階層
` ıjiec ´ ¯ eng ruosh`
underprivileged class
蝸居
¯ u¯ woj
Narrow Dwellings
供房
¯ ang gongf´
supplied housing
Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version).
c
2010 Praxis Language Ltd.
